Show Statue of Cleopatra Is la IsE Egypt's E Chief Attraction Though the Nile is lined with tem tem- temples Temples tem temples ples and statues erected to the honor of Egypt's ancient pharaohs many travelers search especially for forthe forI forthe the one ruler who is most vivid in their minds and most expressive of I Egypt's charm charm Cleopatra Actual Actual- Actually ly according to an authority only one original likeness sculptured in Cleopatra's own time remains in existence the existence the statue on the temple at Dendera This shows Cleopatra in inthe inthe inthe the conventionally stiff upright at at- attitude attitude attitude with wilh the emblem of the god god- goddess goddess goddess dess of love on her head and the little her son by Julius Caesar at her side The temple at Dendera is one of or orthe the best preserved in Egypt But the fact that it retains its statue of Cleopatra is due to a curious cir cir- circumstance When Julius Caesar had been assassinated in Rome his successor Augustus vindictively commanded that all statues of Cleo Cleo- Cleopatra Cleopatra Cleopatra patra be destroyed A wealthy wealth admirer of the great Queen however appealed to the cupidity of Augustus and bought immunity for her statues at the fabulous price of 2000 talents- talents something more than The image of Dendera therefore the t h e only one remaining may be un un- ungraceful ungraceful un- un ungraceful graceful from the modern point of view but must rank as one of the costliest statues known |